Northumbria Police arrest one 'Frank Bentley' with a boot full of drugs and a handgun, after a high speed car chase through Newcastle. 'Bentley' and his 'lawyer' Liz McAuley are actually DCI Frank Burnside and DS Liz Rawton on an undercover assignment to investigate corrupt CID officers in Newcastle. Their target is DCI Bonnet, who seems to be in collusion with local gangster Saul Anderson. Despite Burnside being threatened by Anderson, and Rawton's cover nearly being blown when she runs into her cousin Cheryl at a bar, Burnside manages to gain Bonnet's trust. When Bonnet and Burnside meet at a private club, they are shocked when the police raid the place, but manage to escape without being spotted or arrested.